Dr. Chloe Dafkin

Chloe Dafkin is a South African researcher in human physiology and movement science, with work spanning neurophysiology, sleep, and exercise science. Her scholarship integrates clinical and experimental approaches to understand nervous system excitability, motor control, and cardiometabolic health across diverse populations, including individuals with osteoarthritis, autism, obesity, and restless legs syndrome.

Her research on restless legs syndrome advanced understanding of spinal excitability and the sensory–motor disconnect underlying symptom presentation, refining diagnostic interpretation. In autism research, she has examined links between motor skills, stress biomarkers, and social traits, while also addressing ethical and community engagement considerations for biomedical research in low- and middle-income settings.

Recent studies extend to physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and high-intensity interval training, highlighting practical interventions for cardiometabolic risk reduction. Prospective work in sports biomechanics has identified neuromuscular patterns associated with injury risk. Collectively, her contributions demonstrate strength in translational physiology, objective measurement, and contextually relevant health research.